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Cumbrian MP to run London Marathon for diabetes research

Copeland's MP is putting his best foot forward for charity – despite being hampered by injury.

Jamie Reed

Jamie Reed will take part in his first ever marathon a week on Sunday and is determined to put in his best effort to raise awareness of a condition extremely close to his heart.

Four years ago the NHS saved his life after he was rushed to the West Cumberland Hospital’s intensive care unit with later tests showing he had type one diabetes and was entering diabetic ketoacidosis.

The 40-year-old says that the condition needs to be “better understood” and that people with type one diabetes require a much better service than the one that is currently on offer.

The Shadow Health Minister is raising cash from the marathon to help fund research that will hopefully find a cure for the condition, which is shared by himself and 400,000 other people in the UK – including 29,000 children.

But the father-of-four is not making the challenge easy for himself, as he will be running with a foot tendon injury.

Speaking to the News & Star about his upcoming run, he admitted he was nervous, but was hoping that the adrenalin would push him through.

“I’ve done half-marathons before and always found them comfortable,” he said. “I’ve run off and on for about 20 years – but more off than on.”

And he said he has not done as much training as he should, which he believes led to his injury. “It was really only in February when I started. I’m ‘tapering’ right now which means doing pretty much nothing before the marathon.

“I’ve been training doing half marathons and some 20 mile runs. Apart from the wind and the sleet it’s been great.”

Asked about how he thinks he’ll perform on the day, he answered: “I don’t want to speculate, but I know the Kenyans are worried!... Out of respect for elite athletes I’m going to consciously aim for a time between four and five hours.”